Helen Wills (1812-1890) was born in Reichenberg, Bohemia (now Liberec, Czech Republic) in 1812. She died in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York on 10 January 1890, and is buried in the North Street Cemetery in that city.

She married Josef Gruner (G-3) in Reichenberg. They had three children born there, Mary, Anna and Caroline. A fourth child was born after they came to America and settled in Auburn, New York in 1854 and set up a fabric manufacturing business with his brother Franz Xavier Gruner.

The first two children, Mary and Anna, were twins, born in 1850 in Reichenberg. They are listed in the 1855 special census of Auburn, New York. They are not listed in any later records, so it is assumed they died in childhood.

The third child, Caroline, was born in 1852 in Reichenberg and died on 10 September 1922 in Auburn, New York and is buried in the Soule Cemetery, Fairview Section, Auburn. About 1873 she married Edward F. Cooper (1850-1906), an iron craftsman. They had seven children.

William Cooper (1874-1943), who married Rose _____. Their only child died in infancy.

Elizabeth Cooper (1875-1941), who married Edgar A. Sisson. They had no children.

Edward J. Cooper (1880-1926), married Flora Anderson Harvey. They had no children

Lena May Cooper (1882-1977), married Rev. Frank Morey Weston. . Their children were Carolyn Cooper Weston, who did not marry, and Harry Peck Weston, who married Grace Daly.

Harry Ray Cooper (1884-1953), who married Helen Eells. They had one child, Dorothy, who married Bruce Parrish.

Laura Griswold Cooper (1891-1979), who married Laurence H. Plass. They had one child, Robert H. Plass.

Edna Frances Cooper (1899-1986), who married John Bryce Mitchell. They had one child, David Bryce Mitchell.

William Gruner (1855-1934) was the fourth child of Caroline Wills and Joseph Gruner. He was born in Auburn, became a well known cabinet maker and died there on 12 August 1934. He married Carrie Jenkins. They had no children.

Written and submitted by Marian Z. [G-75-42]

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